Movable panel supports



Oct. 24, 1967 J. A. FORD I v3,348,603

` MovABLE PANEL SUPPORTS Filed Sept. 25, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet. l

v l 1 EN J. A. FQRD Oct. 2 4, 1967 MOVABLE PANEL SUPPORTS Filed sept.25, 1965v 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 MIA A m n .1/1 m M W 7 i 3 35 fx 7,/1 m a75.; 42 7 .w/ .J M24 f ,QQ f, Hw; w 5 5 l INVENTOR. Jil/ff l F0@ BYMag/MM ,l/P/l/EYS Oct.- 24., 1967 v J, A, FORD 3,348,603 l MOVABLE PANELSPPORTS Filed Sept. 25, 1965 4 ShetS-Shee 3 "nl/IM INVENTOR. J//FJ A FQ@Oct.- 24, y1967' J, A FORD 3,348,603

MOVABLE PANEL `SUPPORTS 4 Sheets-Sheetv 4 Filed Sept. 25, 1965 INVENTOR.c//l/[S A Fd@ United States Patent Ofi ice 3,348,603 Patented Oct, 24;,1967 3,348,603 MOVABLE PANEL SUPPORTS James A. Ford, Sturgis, Mich.,assignor to Kirsch Company, Sturgis, Mich., a corporation of MichiganFiled Sept. 23, 1965, Ser. No. 489,604 16 Claims. (Cl. 160-197) ABSTRACTOF THE DISCLOSURE A decorative panel assembly comprising elongated trackmeans having a plurality of lengthwise extending ways. Elongatedcarriers are movably mounted on the ways by lengthwise movementtherealong. The carriers have longitudinally elongated wall portionsdisposed outside of the track means and which provide mounting surfaceswhich extend lengthwise of the track means. Panels are secured to themounting portions of the carriers by interengaging means which providesfor easy removal of the panels when desired.

This invention relates to window decorating apparatus and, moreparticularly, relates to a track and carrier assembly mountable on awall or ceiling and adapted for supporting for sliding movementsubstantially planar panels having substantial horizontal stiffness,such movement being for example, to cover or uncover windows.

It has been conventional for many years to mount drapery traverse .rodson a building wall in order to support pleated draperies for traversingmovement. Pleated draperies of foldable material are mounted on suchrods and the draperies are opened and closed by manipulation of suitablemeans, such as draw cords. All of this is conventional and well knownand needs no further description.

While drapery traverse rods have been highly perfected and are generallysatisfactory in use, there are certain inherent limitations ofstructure, style, and cost of same which make them less than completelysatisfactory, and/ or preclude their use in certain situations. Forexample, it is necessary to form pleats in the drapery because thedrapery must be capable of being folded attractively so that it can bepacked into as small a space as possible when the drapery is opened andthe window is exposed. This usually involves various specialmanipulations, such as sewing pleater tape along the upper edge of thedrapery and the use of multi-prong drapery hooks for reception intopockets in the pleater tape in order that the pleats can be formed inthe drapery. Further, the width of the drapery material needed isordinarily approximately twice the width of the window area to becovered, and such high material requirement increases substantially thecost of the drapery. Moreover, because it is often necessary to sewpleater tape ont the drapery material, or otherwise provide pleatstherein, substantial additional costs, primarily labor cost, areinvolved. Also, because of the cost involved, most users obtain only asingle set of draperies at one time and, thus, they cannot modify theirwindow decoration to suit different situations, for example, it might bedesired to use a different drapery in summer than that used in winter,but this usually is not done because the cost is too great.

Additional difficulties are encountered from the standpoint solely ofappearance. For example, it is diflicult to use more than one type offabric on known Vtraverse rod structures. Consequently, certaindecorative effects, such as might be created, for example, by using twocontrasting fabrics in side-by-side relation, cannot conveniently beachieved. Moreover, certain materials such as the relatively stiff ordiflicult-to-fold fabrics, woven .WQod

panels, etc., which have attractive design possibilities are not usedwidely because they do not fold satisfactorily as is required byconventional drapery traverse rod structures. In addition, becauseconventional traverse rods require the use of pleated drapes, theover-all configurations of drapery traverse rod installations are quitesimilar and tend to have the same appearance, subject of course, to thedifferent decoration on the drapes themselves. Such a configuration maynot be in keeping with the remainder of the room decor, particularly forcontemporary designs. For example, it is not possible with conventionaldrapery traverse rod structures and associated draperies to simulate aShoji-type screen effect.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improvedwindow decorating apparatus for supporting substantially planar panelsfor sliding movement with respect to the wall on which the apparatus ismounted.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved windowdecorating apparatus, as aforesaid, which can be used to support varioustypes of flat panels, including particularly, but not confined to, thosehaving substantial stiffness.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved windowdecorating apparatus, as aforesaid, which is adapted for supporting aplurality of separate panels, which may have different appearances,whereby a number of unique Window decoration treatments can be provided.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved windowdecorating apparatus, as aforesaid, in which the decorative panelscreate an effect similar to a hanging tapestry whereby the full patternand beauty of the decoration on the panels is completely exposed toview.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an irnproved Windowdecorating apparatus, as aforesaid, which in addition to being used forsupporting decorative panels, can also be used for supportingnondecorative panels, such as might be used for sun-screening orsun-reflecting purposes and the like, or to provide a uniform exteriorappearance for a building.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved windowdecorating apparatus, as aforesaid, in which the panels can be easilymounted on or removed from the carrier structures and in which they canbe so mounted on the carrier structures as to eliminate any sagging orfolding of the panels.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent topersons acquainted with equipment of this type upon reading thefollowing description and inspecting the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE l is a fragmentary perspective view of a track and carrierassembly embodying the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary bottom view of the track and carrier assembly.

FIGURE 3 is a bottom view showing all the carriers at one end of thetrack.

FIGURE 4A is a view similar to FIGURE 42 showing.

FIGURE 7A is a sectional view taken along the line VIIA-VIIA of FIGUREA.

FIGURE 7B is a sectional view taken along the line VIIB--VIIB of FIGURE5B.

FIGURE 8A is a perspective view similar to FIGURE 1 and showing amodified construction.

FIGURE 8B is a sectional view taken along the line VIIIB-VIIIB of FIGURE8A.

FIGURE 9 is a sectional view through a carrier structure and showing amodified construction according to the invention.

FIGURE 10 is a sectional view through a carrier and showing a furthermodified carrier structure according to the invention.

FIGURE 11 is a sectional View through a carrier structure and showingyet another modification according to the invention, said view beingtaken substantially along the line XI-XI of FIGURE 12.

FIGURE 12 is a rear elevational view of the carrier structure shown inFIGURE 11.

FIGURE 13 is a sectional view taken along the line XIII-XIII of FIGURE12.

FIGURE 14 is a sectional view through a carrier showing still anothermodification of the invention.

FIGURE 15 is an end View of a section of the track structure and showinga modification of the invention, said view being taken along the lineXV-XV of FIG- URE 16.

FIGURE 16 is a sectional view taken along the line XVI-XVI of FIGURE 15.

FIGURE 17 is a sectional view through the track shown in FIGURE 15 atone longitudinal end thereof.

FIGURE 18 is a view similar to FIGURE 12 and showing yet anothermodification of the invention.

FIGURE 19 is a schematic view showing the improved track structureaccording to the invention used in conjunction with a conventionaltraverse rod.

FIGURE 20 shows a fragmentary sectional view through a panel for use inconjunction with the track and carrier structure of the invention.

General description According to the invention, there is provided amovable panel assembly comprising elongated `overhead track means havinga plurality of lengthwise extending, laterally spaced, externallyopening passageways therein. Elongated carriers extend into thepassageways and are supported thereon for lengthwise movement along thetrack means. The carriers each have an externally extending wall portionwhich presents a mounting surface on which a panel can be mounted,whereby the panels are mounted on the carriers for lengthwise movementtherewith. The panels are normally of width equal to the length of saidmounting surface and preferably have substantial stiffness so that theycan be supported upon the carriers without sagging or folding. Thepanels are each supported on the respective carriers so that they areflat and unpleated whereby they create an effect similar to that of ahanging tapestry. Stop means are provided for positioning and preventingmovement of the carriers in one direction past each other at one end ofthe track whereby the carriers can be positioned in a fully overlapping,aligned relation in which only the forwardmost one of the panels isexposed to view.

In addition, blocking structures are provided to assure that when therearwardmost panel is moved lengthwise along the track toward theopposite end thereof and approaches a point at which it would passbeyond the adjacent panel, it then picks up the adjacent panel so thatthe two panels thereafter move together and a predetermined minimumoverlap is maintained therebetween. Hence, as the rearwardmost panel ismoved away from said one end of the track, all of the movable panelswill follow successively, except for the forwardrnost panel, which canbe stationary.

Detailed description Referring to the drawings, the window decorationapparatus 10 comprises an elongated track 11, which desirably is aone-piece aluminum extrusion. The track 11 comprises a base wall 12, afront wall 13 having a rearwardly projecting flange 14 at its lower end,a back wall 16 having a frontwardly projecting flange 17 at its lowerend and a plurality, here two, intermediate walls 1S and 19 of inverted,substantially T-shape which in this embodiment -define with said frontwall and said back wall three longitudinally extending, laterally spacedchannels 21, 22 and 23. The crossbars 24 and 26 of the intermediatewalls 18 and 19 are coplanar with the flanges 14 and 17 and are spacedtherefrom to form therewith three slots 27, 28 and 29 which in thisembodiment open downwardly and communicate with the respective channels21, 22 and 23. It will be apparent that the track 11 can be providedwith a greater or lesser number of channels if desired.

Elongated, substantially T-shaped carriers 31, 32 and 33 are slideablydisposed within the respective channels 21, 22 and 23. Laterally opengrooves 34 are provided at the opposite lateral sides of the crossbarsof each of the carriers for snugly but slideably receiving the flangeswhich define the slots 27, 28 and 29 whereby the carriers are supportedfor lengthwise sliding movement along the track 11. It will be apparentthat the carriers 31, 32 and 33 can have different types of support onthe track 11, such as by using rollers instead of the slider structuresshown in the drawings.

The stem 36 of each of the carriers 31, 32 and 33 extends downwardlyfrom the track and presents a substantially planar front surface 37. Asuitable fastener structure is secured to the front surface 37 whereby apanel can be attached thereto. A preferred fastener structure is aVelcro fastener 39, commonly called a hook, which is comprised of abase, such as a nylon tape 41, which is secured to a front surface 37 inany suitable manner, such as by an adhesive. A multitude of closelyspaced, stifliy resilient, hook members (FIGURES 11 and 13) projectforwardly from the tape 41 over the entire surface thereof. Forconvenience of illustration in all figures except FIGURES 11 and 13, thehook members are indicated generally by crisscross hatching.

A cooperating Velcro fastener 42, commonly called a pile, is secured, asby sewing or an adhesive, to the decorative panels P adjacent theupperedge thereof. The pile 42 has a multitude of closely spaced pilethreads projecting away therefrom and adapted for positively engagingthe hook-shaped members on the fastener 39 (FIG- URES 11 and 13). Velcrofasteners are commercially available and, hence, are not believed torequire detailed description herein. Further details of the Velcrofasteners are described in U.S. Patents 3,076,244 and 3,114,- 952 andreference may be made thereto for a more complete description thereof.

A decorative panel P can be attached to the Velcro hook 39 by pressingthe pile 42 on the decorative panel P against said hook Where a flexiblepanel is being installed, this can be done in much the same manner aswhen a strip of adhesive tape is secured to another surface. Thedecorative panel can be removed easily by peeling off the pile 42 fromthe hook 39.

Because they provide a lcontinuous holding of the decorative panel Palong its entire upper edge and because they are easy to use, adjustableand durable, Velcro fasteners are preferred for the purposes of theinvention. However, at least some of the -broader objects and purposesof the invention can be carried out by the use of other fasteners, suchas zippers, buttons, snap fasteners, hooks and the like, as described ingreater detail hereinbelow.

The rearward surface 46 of the stern 36 of each of the carriers has ashallow channel 47 (FIGURE 6A) formed therein. A substantially T-shapedstop member 48 (FIG- URE 2) is secured to the longitudinally outer end(leftward end in FIGURE 1) of each of the carriers 31, 32 and 33. Thestem 49 of the stop member 48 extends lengthwise within the channel 47and it is secured to its associated carrier by a -rivet 51 (FIGURES 4Band 7B). The crossbar of the stop member 48 is comprised of two flanges52 and 53, liange 53 being offset longitudinally from the flange 52 adistance substantially equal to the thickness of flange 52. Flange 52abuts against the end of its associated carrier and it extendsfrontwardly therefrom. Flange 53 extends rearwardly into overlappingrelationship with the flange 52 on the stop member 48 lixed to theadjacent rearward carrier, the above-mentioned offset effecting exactalignment of the panels. Thus, the stops 48 limit movement of thecarriers 31, 32 and 33, in one direction (leftwardly in FIGURE 1) past aposition in which the carriers are laterally aligned with each other andare positioned one behind the other (FIGURES 3 and 4B). v

A llexible blocking linger 56 is secured to the frontward two carriers31 and 32 close to but spaced from the longitudinally inner end thereof,that is, the rightward en d thereof as appearing in FIGURE 1. The linger56 includes a leg portion 57 extending lengthwise along the channel 47and pivotally secured at one end thereof to its associated carrier by -arivet 57A. The linger 56 has a rearwardly extending flange portion 58extending toward the adjacent rearward carrier. The flange portion 58 isof such length that it interferes with the flange portion 52 of theadjacent rearward carrier so that when the rearward carrier is movedtoward the longitudinal center of the track, it will engage the flangeportion 58 of the adjacent frontward carrier and cause same to movetherewith and it will maintain the adjacent carriers in partiallyoverlapped Irelation with each other.

The linger 56 can be bent out of the channel 47 yand then pivoted`downwardly to a position (FIGURES 5B and 7B) out of interferingrelationship with the flange portion 52 of the adjacent rearwardcarrier. This permits the adjacent rearward carrier to be movedcompletely beyond the adjacent frontward carrier so that the entirety ofthe frontward surface of said rearward carrier is exposed. Thisprocedure is carried out when a decorative panel is to be mounted on orremoved from the rearward carrier.

The rearwardmost carrie-r 33 need not be provided with a finger 56.However, a bracket 61 is secured to the rearward surface of therearwardmost carrie-r 33 adjacent to the longitudinally inner endthereof. The bracket includes a rearwardly angled portion 62 to which asuitable operating mechanism, such as a baton 63 ora suitable pull cord,not shown, of the type used on conventional traverse rods, may besecured whereby the rearwardmost carrier can be pulled along the trackand thereby elfect sequential movement of the other movable carriersalong the track.

The forwardmost carrier 31 is secured against longitudinal movementalong the track by suitable stop structures 66 and 67 secured to thetrack adjacent to the opposite ends of the carrier 31. Thus, the frontcarrier 31 is stationary while the rearward two ca-rriers 32 and 33 areslideable along the track. The rearward two carriers can be disposedcompletely behind the front carrier and they can be moved with respectto the front carrier so that either the rearwardmost carrier 33 or bothmovable carriers 32 and 33 can be longitudinally offset from the frontcarrier.

The track 11 has holes 31 through its base wall 12 at longitudinallyspaced points therealong. Screws (not shown) may extend through theholes for securing the track to a horizontal wall, such as the ceilingof a room.

Operation While the operation of the apparatus has been indicated in theforegoing description, the same will be briefly repeated in order toinsure a clear understanding thereof. VThe decorative panels P aresecured to the carriers 31,

32 and 33 by pressing the fastener structures 42 on the panels againstthe cooperating fastener structures 39 on the stems 36 of the carriers.The decorative panel P attached to the stationary carrier 31 can bealiixed thereto without diiculty because the front surface 37 of thecarrier 31 is always completely exposed. In order to attach the panelsto the carriers 32 and 33, the fingers 56 on the front carrier 31 andtheintermediate carrier 32 are pivoted downwardly so that the flanges 52 onthe carriers 32 and 33 can move beyond the ends of the adjacentfrontward carrier whereby their front surfaces 37 also are completelyexposed whereby the decorative panels can be attached thereto.

Following attachment of the panels to the carriers, the carriers 32 and33 can then be moved to the outer (leftward in FIGURE l) longitudinalend of the track -and the lingers 56 can then be moved back into thegrooves 47 to a position where they can then interfere with the llangeportion 52 of the adjacent rearward carrier.

Assuming that the panels are all located at one end of the track and themovable panels are located directly behind the stationary front panel,the panels can be moved to their extended positions by grasping thebaton 63 attached to the rearward carrier 33 and moving said carrier 33longitudinally away from the carrier 31. The rearward carrier 33 willmove lengthwise with respect to the carrier 32 so that the major portionof the decorative panel attached to the carrier 33 becomes exposed.However, when the liange portion 52 on the rearward ca-rrier 33 abutsagainst the linger 56 on the carrier 32, then further movement of therearward carrier 33 will elfect simultaneous longitudinal movement ofthe carrier 32. Thus, the panels follow each other in a consecutivefashion with a predetermined overlap being maintained therebetween. Thecarriers 32 and 33 can move in this fashion until the flange portion 52of the carrier 32 engages the stop finger 56 on the stationary carrier31 whereupon further longitudinal movement of the carriers is blocked.

Reverse movement from the carrier 3-3 will elfect movement of same intooverlapping relationship with the carrier 32 until the flange portion 52of carrier 33 abuts against the flange portion 53 of carrier 32whereupon both said carriers will be moved in unison until the lian-geportion 52 of the carrier 32 abuts against the flange portion 53 of theIcarrier 31. This will occur when the panels :are in their outermostlaterally aligned positions. It will be noted in this respect thatbecause of the offset between the flange portions 52 and 53, the panelswill be fully aligned when they are at the outer longitudinal end of thetrack.

Modifications FIGURES 8A and 8B illustrate a modification of theinvention employing four decorative panels, three of which are mountedon movable carriers and the fourth of which is secured to the frontsurface of the track. The purpose of this construction is to eliminatethe channel and the carrier structure associated with the stationarydecorative panel in the principal embodiment of t-he invention.

In this embodiment, the track 11A has three channels 71, 72 and 73, eachof which has a movable carrier 74, 76 and 77 therein. The carriersIsupport decorative panels in the same fashion as in the principalembodiment of the invention. An undercut member 78 projects forwardlyfrom the front Wall of the track 11A. A bracket 79 is mounted on themember 78 and hangs downwardly therefrom and carries suitable fasteningmeans 81 thereon whereby the forwardmost decorative panel can be mountedthereon in a stationary position. It will be apparent that thisstructural arrangement can also be applied to the embodiment of theinvention shown in FIGURES 1-7, in which case the frontwardmostpassageway can be elimin'ated.

FIGURES 8A and 8B also show a wall bracket 82 for supporting the track11A on a vertical wall. The bracket `82 has a wall mounting portion 83and an arm 84 extending forwardly therefr-om. The arm 84 has aprojection 86 on its forward end which extends into a rearwardly openinggroove 87 in the tarck 11A. The arm 84 also has an L-shaped flange 88extending downwardly from its underside and which underlies the rearwardlower corner of the track whereby the track is supported on the bracket.The bracket 32 can also be used to secure the track t-o a horizontalwall by means of a screw 89. Further details of this type of bracketstructure are disclosed in Serial No. 433,539.

FIGURE 9 illustrates an alternative structure for supporting the panelon a carrier. Here the stem y36A of the carrier has a lengthwiseextending, undercut slot 91 therein. A support member 92 has asubstantially T-shaped projection 93 received in the slot 91. The panelis secured to 4the support member 93 in this embodiment by stitching 94.The panel can be attached to the support member and the support membercan be mounted on the carrier by sliding it lengthwise along the slot 91from one end of the carrier.

FIGURE illustrates another modification of the carrier structure inwhich male snap fastener parts 96 are secured to the stem 36B of thecarrier and longitudinally spaced points therealong. Female snapfastener parts 97 are secured to a strip 98 at correspondingly spacedparts therealong and sai-d strip is secured to the panel by stitching99, whereby Athe decorative panel can be mounted on said carrier bysnapping together said snap fastener parts.

FIGURE 14 illustrates still another modification of the structure inwhich the stem 36C of the carrier is I-shaped. A support member 101 hassubstantially theshape of an inverted I and its short leg 102 isreceivable between the legs of the stem 36C. The support member 101 canbe secured to the stern 36C 4by set screws 103. The decorative panel issecured to the support member 101 in any suitable manner, such as -bystitching 104.

In the principal embodiment of the invention, the stop finger 56 issecured to the stem 36 of the carrier in such fashion that the overlapbetween adjacent decorative panels is constant. FIGURES ll, 12 and 13illustrate a modification in which the stop finger can be adjustedlengthwise along the track in order to adjust the amount -of overlapbetween adjacent panels. The stop mechanism 111 comprises a flexiblebase plate 112 having a rearwardly extending flange 113 thereon,corresponding to flange 58 in the principal embodiment, for engaging aflange portion 52 of the stop member of the adjacent rearward carrier. Aroller 114 is rotatably supported on the base plate 112 adjacent one endthereof and said roller is received within a groove 116 in the rearwardsurface of the stem 36D of the carrier for movement therealong. A pin117 is secured to the base plate 112 adjacent the other end thereof. Aseries of spaced-apart holes 118 are provided in the base wall of thegroove 116 for receiving the pin in order to lock the stop mechanism 111against movement along the carrier. Thus, when it is desired to adjustthe position to the stop mechanism 111, the flexible lbase plate 112 isbent to remove the pin 117 from the hole 118 with which it is engaged.Then the stop mechanism is moved lengthwise along the track to thedesired position and the pin 117 is inserted into another hole to secureit in place.

It may be desired, for purposes of convenience in Vshipping andinventorying parts, to -use standard lengths of track which may be cutto length at the job site or, for longer installations, can be splicedtogether. FIGURES l5 and 16 illustrate a modified track structuresuitable yfor this purpose. The track 11B is provided with a pluralityof laterally spaced, lengthwise extending grooves 121 in its uppersurface. Splice pins 122 can be snugly disposed within the grooves 121in adjacent track sections in order to hold same in alignment with eachother and against relative longitudinal movement.

FIGURE 17 illustrates a further modified stop structure for stoppingmovement of the carriers at one end of the track. The track 11B has thesame structure as shown in FIGURES l5 and 16. The stop structure 126includes a pin portion 127 which extends into the grooves 121 and fitssnugly therewithin. A flange 128 extends downwardly from the pin portion127 and abuts against one end of the track and substantially closes theends of the channels therein, whereby the carriers are blocked frommoving beyond said one end of said track.

Referring to FIGURE 18, there is shown a modified carrier structureaccording to which the length of a carrier can be adjusted by securingthereto additional sections of carrier structure. Here, the main carrierstructure is indicated at 131. It will be noted that this carrierstructure has the same structure as that disclosed in FIG- URES ll-13.The supplementary carrier structure 132 has a similar cross-sectionalconfiguration and these two carrier structures can be releasably securedtogether by means of a plate 133 having two pins 134 and 136 securedthereto and which are receivable in openings 137 in the grooves of thecarrier parts. Also, the plate has a roller 139 for being guided alongthe aligned grooves in the carrier parts. The plate also carries ablocking finger 141.

While the foregoing description has -referred to the use of the trackand carrier structure for supporting decorative panels, it will beapparent that the structure of the invention can also be used to supportother panels, not necessarily of a decorative nature. For example, thetrack structure of the invention can be used to support sunscreening orsun-shading materials, heat reflective linings, expanded metal screensand other panels for a wide range of purposes.

In FIGURE 19 there is illustrated schematically the use of the track andcarrier structure 10A according to the invention in conjunction with aconventional traverse rod 150. The panels supported on the track andcarrier structure 10A can, for example, be of a sun-screening material,while the panel supported on the traverse -rod can :be of a conventionaldecorative type. It will be noted here that not only do thesun-screening panels serve that purpose but they also provide a uniformexternal appearance which may be desired in certain buildings havmgmultiple large exposed glass surfaces.

Referring now to the panels mounted on the carrier structures accordingto the invention, inasmuch as the panels hang flat and have an effectsimilar to that of a hanging tapestry, it will be apparent that a widevariety of panels not heretofore capable of use for window decoratingpurposes can be used in conjunction with the structure of the invention.It will be preferred to use fabrics which do not stretch appreciably ineither direction because such fabrics tend to curl and sag which createsa poor decorative effect. Hence, it will be preferred to use panelshaving substantial stiffness, particularly stiffness against bending ina horizontal plane. If desired, the stiffness of the panels can beenhanced by providing elongated, rigid, stitfening elements 152 asindicated in FIG- URE 2O along the lower edge of the panels. Moreover,even relatively stretchable or flexible fabrics can be used providedthey are held against stretching or bending by suitable means. Apreferred procedure for this purpose according to the invention is tolaminate the fabrics to a stiff material, such as a vinyl shade clothmaterial 153, as illustrated in FIGURE 20. The vinyl shade clothmaterial not only will provide adequate resistance to stretching but,also, will protect the panel against the effects of sunlight.

While particular preferred embodiments of the invention have beendescribed, the invention contemplates such changes and modificationstherein as lie within the scope of the appended claims.

sive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A movable panel assembly comprising:

an elongated horizontal track having a plurality of lengthwiseextending, substantially parallel, downwardly opening passageways, saidtrack having at lease one lengthwise extending, laterally projectingflange adjacent each passageway;

elongated carrier means extending into said passageways and having alength less than the length of said passageways, each ca-rrier meanshaving laterally projecting support means adjacent its upper enddisposed above and movably engaging said -ilange so that said carriermeans hangs downwardly from and can move lengthwise along said track;

said carrier means including a body portion disposed below said supportmeans and hanging below said track, said body portion having a frontmounting surface thereon;

a flat front panel fixedly mounted on said track adjacent one endthereof and hanging downwardly therefrom;

a plurality of further flat panels disposed behind said front panel andrespectively connected to said carrier means for movement therewithlengthwise of said track;

fastening means connected to said body portion at the mounting surfacethereof whereby said further flat panels can be releasably fastened tosaid carrier means;

means secured to said carrier means and located below said track forcausing sequential movement of said further panels in response tomovement of one of said further panels toward the other end of saidtrack, said means including blocking means mounted on the rear side ofsaid body portion below said support means and adjacent one longitudinalend of said carrier means and abutment lmeans mounted on the front sideof said body portion below said support -means adjacent the otherlongitudinal end of said carrier means, said further panels beingmovable for a limited distance longitudinally with respect to each otherand with respect to the adjacent forward panel toward the other end ofthe track, said relative movement between adjacent panels being limitedby abutment of the abutment means of one further panel with the blockingmeans of an adjacent panel, said abutment means and blocking meanscoacting to establish a predetermined minimum overlap between adjacentpanels; and

stop means coacting between adjacent panels for laterally aligning saidfurther panels directly behind said front panel and preventing movementof said `panels-beyond said one end of said track, said stop fmeanscausing one vertical edge of said further panels to bel directlylaterally aligned behind the corresponding vertical edge of said frontpanel.

2. A movable panel assembly according to claim 1, wherein said furtherflat panels are of a nonrigid, structure.

3. A movable panel assembly according to claim 1, in which said stopmeans comprises laterally projecting stop elements on one end of saidfront panel Iand on corresponding one ends of said carriers, said stopelements being engageable with each other at one end of said trackmeans.

4. A movable panel assembly according to claim 1, in which said stopmeans comprises a stop device mounted on said track adjacent one endthereof and blocking corresponding one ends of said passageways wherebysaid carriers can abut against said stop device.

5. A movable panel assembly according to claim 1, in which said frontpanel is mounted on a carrier disposed in one of said passageways andincluding means for securing said last-named carrier against lengthwisemovement along said one passageway.

6. A movable panel assembly according to claim 1, in which said frontpanel is stationarily mounted on the front wall of said track.

7. A movable panel assembly according to claim 1, in which each carriermeans has a front surface disposed below and extending lengthwise of thetrack, and said fastening means for connecting said panels to saidcarriers comprising a continuous strip attached to the front surface ofsaid carrier and having a multiplicity of thin, flexible, lamentary hookmembers projecting forwardly therefrom and substantially uniformlydistributed along the entire length of said strip, the panel having asecond continuous strip secured to the rear side thereof adjacent itsupper end, said second strip having a multiplicity of thin, flexible,lamentary pile members projecting rearwardly therefrom and substantiallyuniformly distributed along the entire length of said second strip, saidpile members being pressed into snug holding engagement with said hookmembers whereby said panel is supported on said carrier.

8. A movable panel assembly according to claim 1, in which each carriermeans has a front surface disposed below and extending lengthwise of thetrack, and said fastening means for connecting said panels to saidcarriers comprising a continuous strip secured to the rear side of eachof said panels adjacent the upper end thereof and means for supportingsaid strip on said front surface.

9. A movable panel assembly comprising: an elongated horizontal trackhaving a plurality of lengthwise extending, substantially parallel,downwardly opening passageways, said track having at least onelengthwise extending, laterally projecting flange adjacent eachpassageway;

elongated carrier members extending into said passageways and having alength less than the length of said passageways, each carrier memberhaving laterally projecting support means adjacent its upper enddisposed above and movably engaging said flange so that said carriermember hangs downwardly from and can move lengthwise along said track;

said carrier member including a body portion disposed below said supportmeans and hanging below said track, said body portion having a frontmounting surface thereon;

a plurality of flat panels with one of said panels being connected toeach of said carrier members and hanging downwardly therefrom formovement therewith lengthwise of said track;

first fastening means connected to said body portion at the mountingsurface and second fastening means secured to said panel adjacent theupper edge thereof, said second fastening means being releasably securedto said first fastening means, the upper edge of said panel beingpositioned below the lower side of the track;

means secured to said carrier member and located below said track forcausing sequential movement of said panels in response to movement ofone of said panels toward the other end of said track, said meansincluding blocking means mounted on the rear side of said body portionbelow said support means and adjacent one longitudinal end of saidcarrier member and abutment means mounted onL the front side of saidbody portion below said support means adjacent the other longitudinalend of said carrier member', said panels being movable for a limiteddistance longitudinally with respect to each other and with respect tothe frontmost panel toward the otherend of the track, said relativemovement between adjacent panels being limited by abutment of theabutment means of one panel with the blocking means of an adjacentpanel, said abutment means and blocking means co- 1 1 acting toestablish a predetermined minimum overlap between adjacent panels; and

`stop means coacting between adjacent panels for laterally aligning saidpanels directly behind said frontmost panel and preventing movement ofsaid panels beyond said one end of said track, said stop means causingone vertical edge of said panels to be directly laterally aligned behindthe corresponding vertical edge of said frontmost panel.

10. A movable panel assembly comprising:

elongated track means having a plurality of lengthwise extending,substantially parallel, downwardly opening passageways;

elongated carriers extending into said passageways and movably supportedon said track means for lengthwise movement therealong;

a flat front panel fixedly mounted on said track means adjacent one endthereof and hanging downwardly therefrom;

a plurality of further Hat panels disposed behind said front panels andrespectively connected to said carriers for movement therewithlengthwise of said track means;

stop means for laterally aligning said further panels directly behindsaid front panel and preventing movement of said panels past said oneend of said track; and

means secured to said carriers and located below said track for causingsequential movement of said further panels in response to movement ofone of said further panels toward the other end of said track, saidmeans comprising lost-motion means mounted on said carriers andconnecting adjacent panels whereby each of said further panels can movelongitudinally with respect to the next adjacent forward panel towardthe other end of the track for a limited distance, and then furthermovement of such adjacent two panels will occur in unison, saidlost-motion means including means for establishing a predeterminedminimum overlap between adjacent panels, said overlap being less thanthe width of the panels;

said lost-motion means further comprising a rearwardly projectingblocking means on said front panel and on said carriers, except for therearwardmost one thereof, said blocking means being located adjacent theend of said panel and said carrier remote from said one end of saidtrack, a forwardly projecting abutment on said carriers and locatedadjacent to the other end thereof, said abutment extending forwardly toa point where it interferes with the blocking means on said adjacentfrontward carrier.

11. A movable panel assembly according to claim 10, including meanssupporting said blocking means for pivotal movement lwhereby same can bepivoted out of interfering relationship with said abutment.

12. A movable panel assembly according to claim 10, in which each saidblocking means is mounted on a carriage which is longitudinally movablealong the rear side of its associated carrier, and means for releasablysecuring said carriage against longitudinal movement.

13. A carrier and track construction for supporting a panel forlengthwise movement comprising:

an elongated horizontal track having at least one lengthwise extending,laterally projecting ange;

an elongated body member having laterally projecting support meansadjacent its upper end disposed above and movably engaging said track sothat said body member hangs downwardly from and can move lengthwisealong said track;

said body member having a front mounting surface below said supportmeans and disposed below said track, said mounting surface havingfastening means thereon whereby a panel can be releasably fastened tosaid carrier;

a rearwardly projecting blocking means on the rear side of said bodymember below said support means and adjacent to one longitudinal end ofsaid body member; and

a forwardly projecting abutment projecting beyond said front mountingsurface, said abutment being mounted on said body member adjacent theother longitudinal end thereof.

14. A carrier according to claim 13, including means pivotallysupporting said blocking means so that it can be moved to a position inwhich it will not interfere with the passage therepast on an abutment onanother similarly constructed carrier.

15. A carrier according to claim 14, in which the rear surface of saidbody member has a longitudinally extending recess in which said blockingmeans is partially received and is releasably held against movement,said blocking means being resiliently exible so that it can be bent outof said recess and then pivoted with respect to said carrier. v

16. An elongated one-piece track having an elongated plurality oflengthwise extending, substantially parallel, downwardly openingpassageways therein, said passageways being of the same length and beingdisposed in sideby-side relation and being separated from each other bycommon upright intermediate wall means;

elongated carriers extending into said passageways and movably supportedon said track for lengthwise movement therealong, said carriers being ofless length than said passageways;

a at front panel xedly mounted on said track adjacent one end thereofand hanging downwardly therefrom;

a plurality of further liat panels disposed between said front panel andrespectively connected to said carriers for movement therewithlengthwise of said track;

said panels being exible and being stiffened along the upper and loweredges thereof and the lower edges of said panel being free from guidedrelationship so that the panels are supported and guided solely by saidcarriers; and

means secured to said carriers and located below said track means forcausing sequential movement of said further panels in response tomovement of one of said further panels toward the other end of said`track.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 805,085 11/1905 Meier et al.129-16 1,135,310 4/1915 Memmler 211-46 2,104,261 1/1938 Landau 160-330 X2,523,844 9/ 1950 Rohrman 160-202 2,833,346 5/1958 Preston 160-1972,850,089 9/1958 Burke 1604-202 2,851,167 9/1958 Rosenberg 211-462,895,183 7/1959 Dumbotton 160-197 2,975,904 3/1961 Krebs et al 211-463,054,446 9/ 1962 Cayton 160-173 FOREIGN PATENTS 492,411 9/ 1938 GreatBritain. 944,994 12/ 1963 Great Britain.

DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner.

PETER M. `CAUN, Examiner.

1. A MOVABLE PANEL ASSEMBLY COMPRISING: AN ELONGATED HORIZONTAL TRACKHAVING A PLURALITY OF LENGTHWISE EXTENDING, SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL,DOWNWARDLY OPENING PASSAGEWAYS, SAID TRACK HAVING AT LEASE ONELENGTHWISE EXTENDING, LATERALLY PROJECTING FLANGE ADJACENT EACHPASSAGEWAY; ELONGATED CARRIER MEANS EXTENDING INTO SAID PASSAGEWAYS ANDHAVING A LENGTH LESS THAN THE LENGTH OF SAID PASSAGEWAYS, EACH CARRIERMEANS HAVING LATERALLY PROJECTING SUPPORT MEANS ADJACENT ITS UPPER ENDDISPOSED ABOVE AND MOVABLY ENGAGING SAID FLANGE SO THAT SAID CARRIERMEANS HANGS DOWNWARDLY FROM AND CAN MOVE LENGTHWISE ALONG SAID TRACK;SAID CARRIER MEANS INCLUDING A BODY PORTION DISPOSED BELOW SAID SUPPORTMEANS AND HANGING BELOW SAID TRACK, SAID BODY PORTION HAVING A FRONTMOUNTING SURFACE THEREON; A FLAT FRONT PANEL FIXEDLY MOUNTED ON SAIDTRACK ADJACENT ONE END THEREOF AND HANGING DOWNWARDLY THEREFROM; APLURALITY OF FURTHER FLAT PANELS DISPOSED BEHIND SAID FRONT PANEL ANDRESPECTIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID CARRIER MEANS FOR MOVEMENT THEREWITHLENGTHWISE OF SAID TRACK; FASTENING MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID BODY PORTIONAT THE MOUNTING SURFACE THEREOF WHEREBY SAID FURTHER FLAT PANELS CAN BERELEASABLY FASTENED TO SAID CARRIER MEANS;